Allahabad High Court has sentenced local lawyer Ashok Pande to six months in jail and imposed a fine of Indian Rupees 2,000 in a 2021 contempt of court case, citing his inappropriate courtroom appearance and repeated disregard for legal decorum.
The decision was handed down by a division bench comprising Justices Vivek Chaudhary and BR Singh, who stated that “exemplary punishment is warranted” in light of the seriousness of the charges, Pande’s conduct, and his refusal to participate in the court proceedings.
Pande was found guilty of contempt for appearing before the court without his lawyer's robe and with his shirt unbuttoned on August 18, 2021. According to the court, he also misbehaved with the judges during the hearing, allegedly calling them "goondas" when asked to leave due to his improper attire.
According to Indian media, despite being given several chances, Pande failed to respond to the contempt proceedings. In addition to the six-month jail term, the court ruled that failure to pay the Rs 2,000 fine would result in an additional month of imprisonment.
The court has granted Pande four weeks to surrender before the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Lucknow. Furthermore, a show cause notice has been issued asking why he should not be permanently barred from practicing in the Allahabad High Court and its Lucknow bench. He has until May 1 to submit a response.
The court also took note of Pande’s past record, including a two-year ban from entering the high court premises in 2017, reinforcing the need for strict disciplinary action in the current case.
